Raiders lineman looks for consistency before showdown as ex-49ers starter

Raiders left guard Spencer Burford will face his former team Sunday when Las Vegas travels to Santa Clara to play the San Francisco 49ers. Burford spent his first four NFL seasons with the 49ers after being selected in the fourth round, starting 46 of 64 games played. He signed with the Raiders this offseason and secured the starting left guard job early in organized team activities.

"It's just the next game," Burford said of the return. "I'm just going about this week like I would any other week. Focus on the details and just try to help in whatever way I can." He acknowledged the familiarity with his former teammates but said the group chat has been free of trash talk. "Of course everyone knows that's my former team. But they know what it is and I know what it is. It's all love, but between the whistles it is what it is."

The transition to a new system, teammates and city has not been seamless for the 26-year-old San Antonio native. "I probably did have a bit of a rocky road, just trying to get in a groove as far as things like new techniques from what I've been used to and trying to mold together and find the chemistry with the group," Burford said after Thursday's practice. He stressed the importance of the offensive line operating as "five-as-one" regarding communication and technique.

After an uneven start to the season, including a difficult game against New England, Burford has shown improvement in recent weeks. He cited his performance against the New York Jets as perhaps his best of the year and noted the offensive line is coming off its best rushing output since the opener. "I feel like I'm gradually getting better," he said. "I know I haven't reached my peak."

Burford is concentrating on technical details such as hand placement, pad level, pass-set paths and avoiding false steps. He believes consistency comes from mastering those elements along with off-field habits like proper eating, sleeping, film study and playbook preparation. "You want to be playing your best ball at the end of the year," he said.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal